Cheniere Energy, Inc. $LNG Shares Sold by Ausbil Investment Management Ltd

Key Points

• Ausbil Investment Management cut its Cheniere Energy stake by 26.1% in the third quarter, selling 12,653 shares and retaining 35,787 shares valued at approximately $9.6 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 87.26% of the company.
• Cheniere shares were trading at $271.96, down 1.2%, with a market capitalization of $56.17 billion. The company’s latest quarterly revenue rose 23.5% year over year to $5.73 billion, although earnings of $3.02 per share missed estimates by $0.09.
• The company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.555 per share, equivalent to an annualized $2.22 dividend and a 0.8% yield. Analysts maintain a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating with an average price target of $306.12.

Ausbil Investment Management Ltd trimmed its stake in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG - Free Report) by 26.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 35,787 shares of the energy company's stock after selling 12,653 shares during the quarter. Cheniere Energy makes up about 4.8% of Ausbil Investment Management Ltd's investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest holding. Ausbil Investment Management Ltd's holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $9,628,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC increased its position in Cheniere Energy by 31.7% in the 3rd quarter. S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC now owns 19,139 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $5,149,000 after acquiring an additional 4,607 shares during the period. Moody National Bank Trust Division boosted its position in Cheniere Energy by 9.0% during the 3rd quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 5,298 shares of the energy company's stock worth $1,425,000 after acquiring an additional 437 shares during the period. Eastern Bank grew its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 130.0% in the third quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 115 shares of the energy company's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Burkett Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy during the third quarter valued at $90,000. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 30.3% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 433,283 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $103,559,000 after purchasing an additional 100,806 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.26% of the company's stock.

Cheniere Energy Trading Down 1.2%

Shares of NYSE:LNG opened at $271.96 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.97, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 0.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $56.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.25, a PEG ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 0.06. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 1-year low of $186.20 and a 1-year high of $300.89. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $273.65 and a 200 day moving average price of $261.05.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The energy company reported $3.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.11 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $5.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.92 billion. Cheniere Energy had a net margin of 13.57% and a return on equity of 29.80%. Cheniere Energy's quarterly revenue was up 23.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $7.30 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 16.76 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 18th. Investors of record on Monday, August 10th were given a $0.5550 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 10th. This represents a $2.22 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. Cheniere Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 16.53%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have commented on LNG. UBS Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Tuesday, September 1st. Zacks Research lowered shares of Cheniere Energy from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Weiss Ratings raised Cheniere Energy from a "hold (c)" rating to a "hold (c+)" rating in a report on Friday, August 21st. Sanford C. Bernstein assumed coverage on Cheniere Energy in a research note on Tuesday, June 16th. They set a "market perform" rating and a $283.00 price target for the company. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on Cheniere Energy from $300.00 to $319.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, August 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Cheniere Energy currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $306.12.

Cheniere Energy Company Profile

Cheniere Energy, Inc is a Houston-based energy company focused on the production, liquefaction and export of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Through its subsidiaries, the company purchases natural gas, processes it into LNG and sells it to customers under long-term agreements and in the global LNG market. Its operations also include LNG-related infrastructure, marketing and transportation activities.

Cheniere's principal assets include the Sabine Pass LNG facility in Louisiana and the Corpus Christi LNG facility in Texas.

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